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Our Baby Registry Must Haves – What You Need, What You Don’t and All Secrets In Between!

One of my most requested blog posts is ‘what are your most used and recommended products?! What can’t you live without? What were your favorites?” Well, I’m here to answer those questions for you finally! When you have a baby {as I’m sure many of you know}, you use a lot of things to make the days and nights easier. We all know how overwhelming the baby products market can be, so I’m going to share my baby registry must-have. Okay! Without further adieu…

 

The Essentials: Baby Registry Must Haves

Baby Registry Must Haves

Baby Room 

Sleep

  • Monitor 
    • Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Wall Mount \\ Honestly, this is something I cheaped out on with my kids and am so jealous of every time I spend time with my twin sister. It is a cut above the rest, and it’s so lovely that they can check the camera wherever they are (at home, when traveling, you name it) and have such a clear picture of their littles. You also will use a monitor for so long (we are still using them and our kids are almost 4!), so this is an excellent value over time!
  • Humidifier
    • This is the best humidifier! We’ve tried a few, and this one is by far the best in terms of effectiveness, easy on the eyes, and even easier to keep clean!
      • Pro tip: While you are at it, order a box or two of extra filters – your future self will thank you. I buy these a few at a time, so they are easy to grab a new one when it’s time to refresh the filter.
  • Carbon Monoxide Wall Plug-In
  • Crib
    • I fell in love with this crib on the pages of Serena and Lily, so I paid a high price to only then find the brand directly on Amazon for 1/3 of the cost. So we bought this same crib for both our girl and boy and love it.
  • Crib Mattress
    • Listen, we get that this mattress is a little more expensive, BUT our friends recommended it, and I wanted to make sure I was investing in a great sleep environment, so we had the best shot of them being good sleepers. We got this with M, and she was a great sleeper, so we got another one for W. All our sisters and friends have bought it. It’s LEGIT. We have their twin bed mattress now that Millie is in a big kid mattress because I didn’t want to mess with something working so damn well!!
  • Waterproof Mattress Cover
  • Crib Sheets  
    • You’ll need at least 2-3 crib sheets, and if you’re planning to send your kids to daycare, make sure you get an extra 1-2 since you’ll have to send in crib sheets weekly, with a backup.
    • We indulged and got our Serena and Lily crib sheets. We’ll admit they are a little pricey, but they are of incredible quality and still look great after many, many washes. We were even able to hand down M’s sheets to W when she moved to a big girl bed, so they are of incredible value if you think about it!
  • Crib Liner
    • We recommend this Breathable Mesh Crib Liner. We were pleased with the quality and thought it did a fantastic job. My sister is still using this for her little guy, and he’s almost 2!
  • Black Out Curtains + Shades 
    • These are so important if you want your baby to sleep during the day and at night! We got our at pottery barn kids (they don’t carry them anymore) but made sure to do your research and get great black-out blinds + shades! This is so important (and hard to get right!) that I’d even recommend working with a professional. We had Hunter Douglas blinds installed, and they are amazing. I wish I had used the shade store to do my curtains as well to get perfect.
  • Comfortable Chair
    • We went with an Ethan Allen Swivel Glider Rocker (and LOVE IT!) with an ottoman, but we’ve also loved the pottery barn swivel glider. We still use our reading chairs in our kid’s rooms and can’t imagine having not invested in these.
  • Dresser
    • We got this dresser from Wayfair and made sure that it was wide enough to put the changing pad on top and then used one of the top drawers for the diaper, etc. This worked out great because now that M is older, we just took off the changing table and didn’t have extra furniture to find a new home for.
  • Sound Machine
    • Alright, this sound machine is ugly as sin, but it works SO WELL, and we love that it can both be plugged into the wall or run off AA batteries – making it both our at-home and travel sound machine. We even use this in the car for extended (overnight) car trips, and it works great.
  • Pacifier 
  • Swaddle
    • This swaddle mimics the mom/dad hand on the baby’s chest. It’s incredible and makes getting a super tight swaddle easy. We’ve recommended this to so many of our mom friends, and they are believers now too!
    • For the transition from a swaddle to a sleep sack \\ This Magic Merlin looks so crazy, but it made our transition with our kids out of the swaddle (when they started to roll over), but before they could sleep on their stomachs, a SAVING GRACE! My kids didn’t miss a great night’s sleep. My parents made fun of me, but I swear by this silly-looking merlin!!
  • Sleep Sak
    • This sleep sack is a DREAM! All our kids slept (are still sleeping!) so well in these sleep sacks. They are so cozy and keep your baby snug as a bug all night. I wish I could sleep in it!
      • Pro Tip: We have two – just to make sure we always have one clean! 

Changing Table

baby registry must haves

  • Diaper
  • Diaper Wipes
  • Diaper Trash Can Bags
    • Have you been looking for a bag that is genuinely odor-free – regardless of how disgusting-smelling whatever you put in it? Here you go + your welcome. These bags are game-changers!
  • Wipes Dispenser
  • Changing Pad
  • Changing Liner
    • If you have a boy, you’ll want this changing pad liner! If you’re having a girl, you can likely pass!
  • Changing Table Covers 
    • Make sure to get at least 2-3 covers – to prepare for when one gets dirty or wet!
  • Storage Containers
    • We used our dresser drawers for storage, but we’re working on rounding up some great recommendations based on family + friends’ feedback. More to come!
  • Nail clippers
  • Thermometer
    • Listen, trust us and get this thermometer now. You’ll want to know the exact temperature the first time your sweet little spikes a fever!
  • Diaper Rash  
    • We got this recommendation from Mom on Call and swore by it! Make sure to stock your draws with corn starch and Aquaphor!

 

Bathroom

baby registry check list 2021

  • Bath Towels + Washcloths
    • We love our personalized bath towels! With multiple kids, it makes it easy to keep track of whose towel is whose. Their quality is incredible, and they have held up over the years!
  • Soap
  • Lotion
  • Brush + Comb
    • The same set we got isn’t still being sold, but this one looks very similar! We (surprisingly) used all the different options (Comb, silicone brush, soft brush, etc.!)
  • Bath Tub
    • First few weeks: We used the Puj tub and thought it was great! My kids have always loved baths, and I credit this puj tub in those first few months to making it easy for us (since we were clueless!) to make a nice warm, bubbly bath for our kids. It’s also great so small spaces because it lays flat when not in use! 
    • 3 Months +: We LOVED this bathtub when they were too big for the sink bath but still not sitting up thought about a year or so. It’s great because you only have to fill this with water — allowing you not to wastewater, and it will enable you to keep the water at the perfect temp for your kid.
  • Rinse Cup
    • You will need something to rinse your baby! The kids think this sweet whale is way more fun than a standard water cup. Honestly, we just use a cup, but this is cute and makes bathtime more fun!

Newborn Essentials 

 

  • Bouncer Seat
    • This Bjorn bouncer was hands down one of the best items we purchased. My kids were so happy in it, and I loved giving my arms / back a break (and getting two hands back!)
  • Pack and Play 
    • We LOVE this thing…& Welles still likes sleeping in it (he’s 2+ for context!) This is more of a splurge, but we got it for our first based on a few friends’ recommendations, and we are obsessed. It’s stylish, light, super easy to set up and anyone that sleeps in it loves it. It’s held up so well we’ve used it for both kids and know we’ll pass it down to family as soon as Welles grows out of it!
        • Are you looking for more value? We also have this Dream On Me Travel Light Playard, and it’s excellent! Its sleek design is beautiful, it’s lightweight, and our kids get a great night of sleep in this.
  • Blankets
    • There are so many great blankets out there! Make sure you have a couple for floor playtime, walks in the Stroller, and keeping them extra cozy in their cribs and car seats!
  • Undershirts / Bodysuits 
    • We loved the undershirts that didn’t go over the baby’s head. With their soft spot, that just totally freaked us out. We recommend a great bodysuit that buttons in the front — we used these bodysuits from h&m for both our boys and girls!
  • Playsuits / PJs
  • Diaper Bag
    • I never actually bought a diaper bag; all the bags on the market just screamed “mom,” and I couldn’t get on board. So, I used LL Bean totes instead. We used medium for our everyday bag, and then we used a large for day/weekend trips. With careful packing never had an issue with bottles, etc., spilling.
    • That said, this diaper bag & this diaper bag are adorable, and I’d buy both if I were still in the market!
  • Everyday Car Seat + Stroller 
    • Infant Car Seat \ We all used the Uppa Baby Messa Car Seat and Uppababy Vista Stroller loved being able to plug into the Stroller, etc., quickly. Once our second came along, we got the extenders and promptly turned the single Stroller into a double (such a value play if you are thinking about a second down the road!)
  • Car Mirror
    • Having a car mirror gave me so much comfort in those early days and was useful until our kids turned around (when they were older.) After that, I was surprised by how much I used this one!
  • Seat Protector
  • Activity Center
    • Pre-Kids Meg would have never let this ugly thing into her house, but even though it’s didn’t jive with the look I was going for, my kids LOVED IT, and it provided hours of entertainment for both our kids! Honestly, I can’t recommend this Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper more! 
  • High Chair
    • If you want an actual high chair, the high chair, we love this one! It’s super easy to clean and easy to take the tray on and off with one hand. That said, we actually used this one that was attached to our table (because I wanted to save the space in our kitchen/dining room) and wanted my kids at the table with us and loved it so, so much! It also made going out to dinner and traveling easy because we’d just take it off and re-attach it whenever we went. It’s also super easy to clean – you just throw the cover in the washing machine!
  • Socks
  • Seasonal (Winter) Essentials
    • Your little will need Hats (2), a jacket (1), a Snowsuit (okay, this is more of a nice to have!), and mittens.
  • Dock-a-tot
    • We say get a dock a tot! We used this so much, and our kids would always take such great naps in it — regardless of whether we were at home, at our grandparents, or in a new environment altogether (hotel, etc.). They always felt like they were in the same cozy atmosphere, so we didn’t struggle with wanting to be a little more flexible with our plans around their many naps in that first year!
  • Baby Books
  • Moms on Call Books

 

Feeding Essentials

  • Baby Breeza
    • I nursed my kids until they were about four months but always supplemented at night. The baby breeze is a must-buy if you are planning to use formula!
  • Bottles
    • We’re huge fans of dr. Brown’s bottles! I wanted to make sure we were doing everything we could to avoid our kids getting colic. Make sure to get both the level two and level three nipple sizes, so you are ready as they grow!
  • Formula
    • The hospital started us on this formula, and we stuck with it for the first year of our kids’ lives. We loved it, and so did they! It gave me comfort that it supports immunity as well as brain and eye development!
  • Sippy Cups
  • Plates
  • Bowls
  • Bottle Brushes
    • We mostly put our bottles in the dishwasher, but we always made sure to have a bottle brush with us when on the go or traveling!
  • Spoons + Forks
  • Formula Dispenser
  • Snack Containers
  • Bibs
    • Okay, these sleeves bibs seem a bit extra, but you have no idea just how messy kids are when they learn to eat. These bibs will save you load and load of laundry (and spotting stains, etc.!)
    • In terms of your more “typical” bib, these bibs are beyond, the beyond best! They come in so many great colors/patterns and help keep the food contained 🙂
  • Cups 
  • Burp Cloths / Bibs
    • We loved (and still use!) these bib/burb cloths. They were great for nursing and great for when they transitioned to bottles and eventually feeding. We loved that they could be both a bib or burp cloth — and now a towel for when the kids make a little spill!

 

Favorite First Toys

 

FirstAid/Medicine Cabinet

We recommend having the following items on hand before needing them. This will cut down any middle of the night trips to the pharmacy after you speak to the pediatrician’s office

  • Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution
  • thermometer
  • saline spray
  • children’s Benadryl 
  • Infant Tylenol
    • Infant Tylenol – be careful; I accidentally got children’s Tylenol at first for “older” kids, not our babies! 
  • Infant Motrin
    • Infant Motrin – Once we could use this, we found it effective for teething!
  • Cough Medicine, we swear by this cough and mucus medicine!
  • Gel Pak
    • You’ll want this gel pack in your freezer the first (and hundredth!) time they bump their head or get a bo-bo!
  • band-aids
    • we call band-aids stickers in our house because that’s less scary, but they are always band-aid brands, and I love stocking up to make sure we always have the magic trick for making boo-boos better!
  • Neosporin
  • Nose Frida
    • the Nose Frida is a must for those early day colds and stuffy noses; this thing is incredible and way less gross to use than it looks!
  • nail clippers
    • you’ll need to cut your baby’s nails almost the first week they get home; these clippers are incredible and the best on the market.

 

Miscellaneous 

  • Baby Detergent – Biz for stains, Dreft
    • Honestly, I didn’t know how to do laundry before kids. Now I’m obsessed with getting stains out! Biz is incredible and can get out most stains!
    • We used dreft when our kids were young! Now we all just use tide pods.

 

We hope this helps you in your journey and that you’ll reach out with all your questions!! You aren’t alone in this motherhood journey!!

XOXO,

🤍 Meg

hey there!

Hi, I'm Meg! As a working mom who didn't always have as much time with my kids as I would have liked, I wanted to make sure the quality of the time we had together was exceptional. Easier said than done! Because life often got in the way, I found myself stressed, rushed, and making sacrifices in creating our perfect event. Our hope for All the Moments is that it will allow you to create a beautiful, fun, and curated life for the entire family. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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